view National Ceremony pictures 2011

CEREMONY DETAILS

1. LOCALE:
   The Ceremony will take place at the National War Memorial on 11 November at 1055 hours.
   
   
2. VETERANS' PARADE:
   Veterans of all wars will parade and participate as follows:
   
   
   1. The pipe band will report to the Cartier Square Drill Hall at 0925 hours to lead the Colour Party from there to the head of the Veterans Parade, East of the Corner of Metcalfe and Queen streets.  They will march off from the Drill Hall at 1000 hours by the following route:
      
      West on Laurier to Metcalfe
      North on Metcalfe to Queen
      
      
   2. Veterans will assemble on Queen Street, corner of Metcalfe, at 1005 hours.  They will form up in ranks of no more than 100 veterans with the head of the parade facing East on the corner of Metcalfe.
      
      
   3. Parade Route—Parade will march off at 1025 hours moving East on Queen Street in rear of the pipe band and Colour Party to a position facing the Memorial on the triangle forming the southern portion of the National War Memorial.  Parade to be in position at the Memorial by 1035 hours.
      
      
   4. Parade Commander—appointed by Dominion Command.
      
      
3. CANADIAN FORCES:
   Assembly and parade route as set out in Canadian Forces Ceremonial Instructions. All in position at Memorial by 1035 hours.
   
   
4. POSITIONS AT MEMORIAL:
   As illustrated on the Group Positions at Memorial Plan, Annex "A".

   Colour Party—line main steps at Memorial at 1040 hours.

   Central Band—in position by 1030 hours.

   Ottawa Children's Choir—in position by 1040 hours.

   Canadian Forces—4 armed sentries and 1 sentinel (Nursing Sister) posted by Canadian Forces at Memorial by 1040 hours. In addition the two flag sentinels will be in position by 1040 hours.

   Diplomatic Corps—in Position 10 by 1045 hours.
   All diplomatic vehicles must be clear of the site by 1010 hours after which no Diplomatic vehicles will be granted entry

   Ministers of the Crown, Special Guests—in position 7 by 1040 hours.
   
   Veterans Groups and Organizations—in position 8A by 1045 hours.

   General officers—in Position 7 by 1045 hours.

   Wreath Bearers other than bearers of the Vice Regal Group, Diplomatic Corps, Veterans groups and organizations take Position 8B on ramp East of main steps by 1030 hours.

   Disabled veterans—in Position 6A by 1030 hours.

   Vice Regal Group—in front of and facing Memorial at 1056 hours.

   Entourage of Vice Regal Group—in position 6B, reserved seating area.

5. CAR PARK:
   Cars for Vice Regal Party will park on Wellington, North of the Langevin Building.  Parking on Parliament Hill will not be possible.
   
   
6. BROADCAST AND TELECAST:
   Arrangements will be made for a national broadcast and telecast of the Ceremony.
   
   
7. ARRIVAL OF THE RIGHT HONOURABLE STEPHEN HARPER
   The Right Honourable Stephen Harper and Mrs. Harper will arrive on the Southeast side of the apron in front of the Memorial at 1038 hours.  He will be met by the Dominion President and remain in the area to await the arrival of other members of the Vice Regal Group.
   
   
8. ARRIVAL OF THE SILVER CROSS MOTHER
   The Silver Cross Mother will arrive on the Southeast side of the apron in front of the Memorial at 1043 hours.  She will be met by the Dominion President, greeted by Right Honourable Stephen Harper and Mrs. Harper, then escorted to the Vice Regal Group area at the base of the steps (east side).
   
   
   
9. ARRIVAL OF THE GOVERNOR GENERAL
   His Excellency the Governor General will arrive on the Southeast side of the apron in front of the Memorial at 1048 hours.  The arrival of the Governor General will be announced by the trumpeter sounding the "Still" on arrival of His Excellency at the sidewalk.  He will be met by the Dominion President, greeted by Right Honourable Stephen Harper and Mrs. Harper, and escorted to the dais where the Governor General will receive the Vice Regal Salute.  On completion of the salute, His Excellency will meet the other members of the Vice Regal Group. The Vice Regal Group will move to Position 4 in front of the Memorial at 1056 hours in preparation for the commencement of the Ceremony.
   
   
10. ORDER OF CEREMONY (See Program)
    Following "God Save the Queen" at the completion of the ceremony, the Vice Regal Group will proceed to the saluting base.  The Diplomatic Corps, special guests and representatives of veterans groups will follow the Vice Regal Group to their positions at the saluting base North of the Memorial.
    
    Wreath Laying by Other Organizations & Individuals
    Other organizations and individuals wishing to do so may lay wreaths on the Memorial following the official Ceremony.
    
    

    Duty Band and/or Choir - Will perform the required music and songs for the Ceremony including appropriate music during the placing of wreaths by:

    1. Vice Regal group.
    2. Diplomatic Corps.
    3. VIPs.
    4. Veterans Groups and Organizations.
       
       
11. MARCH PAST:
    Preparation for March Past—Following the playing of "God Save the Queen", the pipe band will lead the Colour Party followed by the Veterans contingent and the other sections of the parade.  They will move from the formed up position South of the Memorial, in a Westerly direction, then North on Elgin and East on Wellington. The duty band will reform in its approximate position and face Wellington.
    
    Commencement of March Past—The signal for the commencement of the parade will be given by the Ceremony Director.  Only one marching order will be given by either the Colour Party Commander or the Parade Commander.  Music for the march past will be provided by the Pipe Band and the Duty Band.  The Pipe Band will play until all veterans have passed the Saluting Base and the Duty Band will then start playing. The remaining Bands will not play until they have reached the corner of MacKenzie and Wellington.
    
    The order of march is:

1. Pipe Band
2. Colour Party
3. Veterans
4. Canadian Forces
5. RCMP
6. Cadets
7. Guns
   
   
Salute to Veterans—When the veterans have completed their march past and arrived at a position in front of the Government Conference Centre on Wellington Street, they will halt, advance with a left turn and receive the respects of the Canadian Forces parade.  The pipe band, Colour Party and other elements in the parade will continue to their dispersal areas.  The veterans' contingent will be dismissed when the complete parade has cleared their front.

Drop Off and Departure Locations for School Groups--Annex E

DETAILED TIMETABLE

CF = Canadian Forces
PWGSC = Public Works and Government Services Canada
RCL = Royal Canadian Legion
Issued by The Royal Canadian Legion Dominion Command